Survey Will Seek Information On Future Needs Of Local Schools

CROMWELL — Town residents will soon be getting calls from local volunteers asking some rather personal questions.

``What type of home do you live in?''

``How many persons live in your household?''

``Do you have any children attending private or nonpublic schools?''

The questions are part of a townwide demographic study commissioned by the school building committee in an effort to estimate future enrollment in town schools.

The study is an early component of a large building project that is expected to include renovations to existing schools and possibly construction of another school.

The cost may be around $34 million, and a bonding referendum on the project is expected later this year.

Anthony Scierka, building committee chairman, said the committee is hoping to get enough local residents to volunteer to conduct the survey.

``One of the reasons we want to involve local townspeople is because people are often not forthcoming to strangers,'' he said. ``This information is very, very important to the school building committee's work.''

He said even at current enrollment levels, the schools need some improvements. Officials hope to have the survey results by sometime in May.

School officials expect the survey to reach 600 to 800 households, and each survey will be done according to a standard script asking the same questions.

The survey mentions nothing about support for the project and does not solicit opinions. Individual household information will be kept confidential, officials said.

Scierka said volunteers will be asked to make 15 to 20 calls, more if the volunteer offers, and the calls may be made from home.